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Chapter 19 – Part 2

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Translator: AnnieVanCookie

Editor: Ryunakama

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Following Gouda’s words, I can see Selina, who is still surrounded by spears, hanging her head down in regret and clenching her fists tightly. I can almost hear my composure beginning to shatter, and my restrained emotions are about to explode. I answer Gouda’s question while frantically trying not to completely lose my mind.

「Those are some cruel words, Lord Director. She might be a Lamia, but ever since coming to this village, she has been whole-heartedly working together with everyone. Hasn’t Sister Paramis’ miracle, let alone the great Mairahl’s judgment, already proven that she is a person of good faith?
Moreover, there’s no person living in this village who would think or speak ill of our Royal Family, who are the fathers of this country. They just live earnestly day by day. Please don’t say such words.」

「So, in the end, you admit that you can’t prove it, is that it? That we should just trust you because you can pile up some words on top of each other? You can pile up as many boring words as you want, but you might as well be a man and apologize for your mistakes!」

In the end, my words only manage to earn Gouda’s anger. With his face’s every corner completely tinted red with liquor, Gouda throws his empty glass at me with all his strength. Everybody’s faces change to surprise at what Gouda did, and I decide to take the glass, even though I could avoid the blow if I wanted to. This should at least put an end to his gloating, as both catching it or avoiding it would still make Gouda more irritated. But the glass that was aimed for my forehead never reaches its target, as a slender hand stretches from my left side and catches it in midair.

「Christina!」

Christina, who I had not seen in this place up until now, catches the glass in midair with her right hand. Christina, who is wearing civilian clothes and her sword “Aiken Espada” at her waist, looks at me over her shoulder as she lowers the glass.

「It looks like you were not planning to dodge it, but I can’t just stand and watch a friend get hurt. This might come off as too much as an imitation of you, but please forgive me.」

「No, I can only be grateful to you for doing something for me. Thank you.」

「Oh, I see.」

Christina’s happy smile quickly turned into a stern glare as she turned to Gouda.

「Director Gouda, I am Christina, from Galois’ Magic Academy.」

「Christina? A student from the Magic Academy, that silver hair and those red eyes… so the rumors were true? Why are you here… no, that lineage was related to this village, wasn’t it?」

「I’ve only just arrived, so I don’t know the details, but I’ve heard you were growing suspicious not only of Dran but of Bern Village as well, Director.」

「Oh… Yes. Though there is a report from Headmaster Olivier, there has never been any sort of interaction with the people from Ente forest before. It is necessary to confirm the details.」

「You are quite right. However, from my point of view, it seems that more than rigorous investigation, your doubts are founded by nothing but your personal opinion, Director.
I am but a mere student, but this behavior from a person who’s in charge of governing the people is something that cannot be overlooked, director.」

「Lady Christina, no matter who you are, I am the one responsible for carrying out the duties bestowed upon me by His Majesty the King. Just as you said, you are a student, and as such, it would be wise not to speak unnecessary words. Unfortunately, I will have to report what has happened here to your father. That may not be too good for someone of your position.」

For a moment, Christina seems upset. Is she not on good terms with her family? Is that why when I first met her, her heart seemed as if shrouded in a deep fog of melancholy?
Christina takes a deep breath and shakes her hesitation off.

「Do as you please. I guarantee that Dran and the people of this village are innocent, Director. For the time I have been in this village, I have not seen a single villager thinking or speaking in the way you say. And about Selina… the fact that this Lamia girl lives in this village and interacts with the people of Ente Forest is not only beneficial for these places, but at a larger scale, I am certain that it will benefit Galois as well. I’m sure you can understand this, Director.」

「I would like to disregard the words you’ve been just piling up here, just as I’d do for any other student of the Magic Academy… But alas, since this is you, I cannot simply ignore them. Do you really understand your position, your duties, and your influence? We can still make it as if you hadn’t said anything, and your Father doesn’t need to know any of this.」

「I will not go back on my words.」

「Your resolve is commendable. But if you continue to live like that, you will soon be ruined. Your temper is too pure and innocent for your position. Even though being like that feels good on a personal level, it doesn’t work in the world you live in.」

「The world I live in is simply one in which I act in a way that won’t shame my mother, who has been called to heaven.」

「The dead find no delight in our joy, to say nothing of comfort. All they do is leave a hole in the chest of those who remain here.」

Hmm? Suddenly there’s a hint of true feelings in Gouda’s words, not just cynicism or lies.
These feelings of loneliness and depression that make one feel lifeless even though they are alive… I wonder if this man has been through a situation that would make him feel so, just like Christina.

「Still, I cannot turn away from my mother, who still lives in my heart.」

I think I can hear Gouda’s heart breaking at the words of the resolute Christina.

「Is that so…? If you can say that, then, fine. I will not pursue you any longer and I will cease my investigation. But you can be sure I will not forget you. Should this village cause any inconvenience to Galois or the Kingdom, you will be the one to be held accountable for it. Perhaps one day you may come to regret today’s events.」

「I don’t regret anything that has happened today.」

「Such strength! I’m almost jealous. Well then, I shall be leaving for today. Hey, begin the preparations to leave at once! We have no further business in this village.」

The surprised subordinates, the Centaur female knight, and the soldiers begin to move as directed by the exhausted Gouda. It is hard to say whether Gouda’s mind has changed because of his exchange with Christina or not, but those who have come with him seem to be having a hard time following his sudden change of heart. Gouda quickly jumps into his carriage and the soldiers form ranks as directed by the female centaur knight. The same boy that gave Gouda the glass of liquor approaches us, bows down and gets the glass back from Christina.

「Lord Gouda is very sorry. I apologize on his behalf.」

The boy, who must be around Marco’s age, apologizes with a clear and well-mannered voice.
Thinking such an apology is impossible considering his position and social status confuses me a little, but still I accept it.

「Don’t worry, I can see the reasoning the Lord Director had to say those things. There’s no need to apologize.」

「Still, it was too excessive of him. Lord Dran, Lady Christina, please forgive him for the things he has said about you and the villagers.」

「No, like Dran said, there’s nothing to apologize for. It is true that I’m just a student and shouldn’t have spoken up like that.」

「I’m really sorry. Please be assured that I will try to convince my master not to report any of this to your father.」

「Oh, his frankness might have even been helpful somehow. I don’t regret what I said, but I feel a bit depressed when I think of what happened just now.」

With a “yes”, the boy returns to the carriage to continue with the preparations for their departure. Before getting in the carriage, he turns towards us once again and bows. As soon as the Director and his party left, Selina, who had been surrounded by soldiers, comes right to me and hugs me tightly.

「Hey, wait, Selina! Hugging is fine and all, but don’t jump on me like that!」

「But you and the villagers were in trouble because of me, Dran. And you would have even taken a glass to the face for me! I’m glad Christina was there to catch it before it hit you, but I wouldn’t have liked it if it had hurt you.」

Selina’s sobbing voice and her holding me like she never wants to let go of me heals my unraveled heart, and I find myself rubbing her back softly with my hand and brushing her hair gently, as if I were soothing a little child.

「There, there. Everyone in this village knows that you are a good girl. I hate when things like this happen. But there’s no need to be afraid anymore. I bet those spears were scary.」

I can feel Selina shaking her head from left to right a little while it’s still buried in my neck.

「It was scary, yes. But I was far more scared to see you hurt, Dran. I’m really glad you’re safe.」

「Oh, you were worried about me? Thank you, Selina. And thank you too, Christina. You’ve really saved me. But are you really all right? It looked like it was getting quite unpleasant for you back then.」

I ask Christina directly while still gently stroking Selina’s hair, and she just shrugs playfully.
It’s a surprisingly affable gesture coming from her, but again, the beautiful face humans make is a strange fit for them.

「What? I’m sure I’ll manage somehow. I’ve felt like I’ve reached the end of my life many times, but I’ve been able to pull through so far. This is nothing.」

It seems that we intentionally try to act cheerfully so as to not let ourselves have groundless suspicions. So maybe pretending not to notice that would be a good way to reward Christina’s good intentions.

「Is that so? I’m glad, then. Still, this is our fault. If there’s anything we can do to help, please let us know. I am in your debt for what happened today, Christina.」

「In my debt? I feel it is I who is indebted to you and the people of this village.」

Just as I began to understand the true meaning behind Christina’s muttered words, the village headman approached us, supported by his cane, and solemnly lowered his head.

「I am very sorry, Lady Christina. Our village has inconvenienced you greatly. How can this old man ever compensate you?」

「Please, raise your head. I did this out of my own volition. My grandfather will laugh this off and forgive me. But what about you, Dran, and Selina?」

「Oh, don’t worry about that. They are like grandchildren to me. This village is like one big family. I will not be scolding any members of this family who did nothing wrong.」

「I see, I’m glad to hear that. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if my important friends are put to blame.」

「Ho ho, it seems that Dran and Selina get on extremely well. But Lord Gouda was not like that before.」

「Do you know about the Lord Director’s past, headman?」

I ask the village headman as I keep comforting Selina, and he nods disheartedly.
If that Director has been in charge of this village for a long time, I suppose it’s natural for the village headman to know him. But the words that come out from the headman’s mouth make me think that the Director was once a different person than what he is now.

「My dear boy, before you were born, this village broke his heart. He had been a great help during the development of the northern region of the country, but then his young son was lost to an epidemic, and then was soon followed by his wife. Because of that, he has shut himself off completely, and since then he has only ever found solace in liquor. To make matters worse, he was in this village when his son fell to his sickness, so he couldn’t be there when he passed away. That has caused him a tremendous grief, and when his wife passed away as well, he started to behave in such a way that seemed as if he had lost all interest in this village. It has been far too long since he last showed up in this village like today. Perhaps coming to this village makes him remember the time when he lost his son.」

I see. He has suffered his son’s death due to disease while helping with the development of the northern lands, then he lost his wife as well shortly after, and his heart was torn apart.
Have his eyes become muddy because his heart could not endure being assailed by such tragedies one after the other? Christina, Selina, and I remain speechless after learning the unexpected circumstances behind Gouda’s attitude.

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